The normal levels and types of glycoalkaloids found in commercial varieties of potato (Solanum tuberosum) appear to present no hazard to human health. However when wild Solanum species are used in breeding endeavors, new and untested glycoalkaloids may be introduced. Recent studies of domestic crosses with a wild Solanum oplocense accession indicated that the levels of a non-indigenous glycoalkaloid appeared associated with reduced defoliation by the Colorado potato beetle. The non-indigenous glycoalkaloid was isolated from foliage of the wild S. oplocense accession and unambiguously characterized by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and NM analysis as the glycoalkaloid dehydrocommersonine.
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